Old Gilbert Cemetery
Photo added by Jane Gilbert

Old Gilbert Cemetery

Also known as Gilbert Cemetery

Bethel, Giles County, Tennessee, USA

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  • Get directions Off of Hagan Rd. up a steep, unpaved lane
    Bethel, Tennessee, USA
    Coordinates: 35.01465, -87.08365
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The Old Gilbert Cemetery is located off of Hagan Rd. in the Bethel area of Giles County. Lore has it that Thomas Gilbert, patriarch of the Gilbert family of Giles Co. and Limestone Co. AL, chose the location of the cemetery on his land. He was buried there in 1835.

This picturesque cemetery was apparently unique in its time as both white Gilbert family members and friends are buried there as well as Gilbert slaves and their descendants. Former slave Mintie Gilbert Wood made this statement when interviewed about being a slave of Cary Gilbert, Thomas' son, "...he has his own graveyard where everyone of us black or white dat ever been in de Gilbert family can be buried without costing us a penny."

Descendants of the slaves maintained the cemetery well into the 20th century, but as more and more have moved away and time has passed, it has long since become overgrown. The fence has been felled by trees on occasion, but makeshift repairs have been made by someone. The gate is now barbwired shut, but it can be opened with care, or you can resort to a belly crawl to get under it.

Rumor has it that the cemetery can be seen briefly in the 1995 feature film "Tom and Huck."





The Old Gilbert Cemetery is located off of Hagan Rd. in the Bethel area of Giles County. Lore has it that Thomas Gilbert, patriarch of the Gilbert family of Giles Co. and Limestone Co. AL, chose the location of the cemetery on his land. He was buried there in 1835.

This picturesque cemetery was apparently unique in its time as both white Gilbert family members and friends are buried there as well as Gilbert slaves and their descendants. Former slave Mintie Gilbert Wood made this statement when interviewed about being a slave of Cary Gilbert, Thomas' son, "...he has his own graveyard where everyone of us black or white dat ever been in de Gilbert family can be buried without costing us a penny."

Descendants of the slaves maintained the cemetery well into the 20th century, but as more and more have moved away and time has passed, it has long since become overgrown. The fence has been felled by trees on occasion, but makeshift repairs have been made by someone. The gate is now barbwired shut, but it can be opened with care, or you can resort to a belly crawl to get under it.

Rumor has it that the cemetery can be seen briefly in the 1995 feature film "Tom and Huck."





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  • Added: 10 Jun 2002
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 1341450